Earlier this week, Opeth's tour bus crashed into another car that made an unexpected U-turn in the middle of the highway as the band (minus Åkerfeldt, Axenrot, Äkesson who had flown home to Sweden) and their crew were on the way to Brussels/Belgium. Nobody in the band or crew got hurt, but apparently the driver of the other car got critically injured (and passed away later). Opeth will go ahead and play the Brussels date on the 17th as well as the remaining shows of the Progressive nation tour.

Guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt has issued the following: "Myself, Axe, Fredrik and our soundman, Pontus Norgren decided to fly home to our families for a few days as the option would have been three days off in Brussels. Now I hear that our bus apparently crashed into this other car making a unexpected U-turn in the middle of the highway. Mendez and Per were on the bus together with the rest of our crew but nobody got hurt. They are however shocked and very shaken of course. The driver in the other car was critically injured. I've not heard back from anyone yet regarding his progress but apparently it's not looking very good. Hoping for the best however.

I don't know where or when this happened but I know the bus was heading from Dublin to Brussels. I'll let you know more as soon as I get some information, but as for now everyone in the band are safe and same with our crew. As far as I know the only injured person was the driver of the other car, which obviously is horrible enough! To be honest, I rarely think about things, accidents like this, but fuck man, it happens! My mind's all over the place and right now I don't want to go back out. But... the show in Brussels on the 17th and the remaining part of the tour will go ahead as planned."

But now it appears that the Opeth bus accident was actually the result of a suicide: their tour bus crashed into a driver aiming to take his own life. Mikael Åkerfeldt explains: "I just got a text from Mendez who says that the driver of the other car (who made the U-turn) that our bus crashed into, sadly passed away from his injuries. On top of that it seems as if it was a deliberate death-stunt from his side as the police had found a suicide-letter in the car-wreck.

This is just getting more odd and scary, I tell ya. I've no idea who he was but I have to say our condoleances goes out to his family and loved ones anyways either though we don't have a name at this point. I'm kinda lost for words here."

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Source:	opeth.com
Band profile:	Opeth

As posted on the Opeth website: "after a stellar 2008 that found the band´s most recent release, "Watershed", atop many critical "best of" lists, the Swedish metal outfit will return to the US for a third tour run. The tour - their third in support of "Watershed", which earned the band the best reviews of its career - will kick off on May 1 and will be sponsored by Decibel Magazine. Enslaved have been confirmed as direct support."

01 May - Sayerville, Starland Ballroom - NJ
02 May - Boston, House of Blues - MA
03 May - Montreal, Medley - QUE
04 May - Toronto, Sound Academy - ON
05 May - Pittsburgh, Mr. Smalls - PA
06 May - Chicago, House of Blues - IL
08 May - Omaha, Sokol Auditorium - NE
09 May - Boulder, Fox Theater - CO
11 May - Boise, Knitting Factory - ID
12 May - Portland, Roseland Theater - OR
13 May - Chico, Senator Theater - CA
14 May - San Francisco, Grand Ballroom - CA
15 May - Pomona, The Glasshouse - CA
16 May - Los Angeles, Avalon - CA
17 May - Tucson, Rialto Theater - AZ
19 May - San Antonio, Scout Bar - TX
20 May - Oklahoma City, Diamond Ballroom - OK
21 May - Memphis, New Daisy Theater - TN
22 May - Knoxville, Bijou Theater - TN
23 May - Columbus. Newport Music Hall - OH
24 May - Detroit, Emerald Theater - MI
26 May - New York, Grand Ballroom/Hammerstein - NY
27 May - Washington, 9:30 Club - DC

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Source:	opeth.com
Band profile:	Opeth
Event:	Opeth + Enslaved

Opeth will release a very special digital EP "Burden" on December 9th. Next to the "Burden" radio edit, this release features 2 rare b-sides including a much sought after cover of Alice In Chains' "Would?" and a track previously available for a limited time only, "Mellotron Heart."

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Source:	blog.myspace.com
Band profile:	Opeth

Opeth have announced new South American/Mexican tour dates. The band commented as follows: "We receive a lot of mail from you guys in South America and now we can announce that Opeth will come to South America in 2009! During March and April Opeth we will appear in Mexico City, Bogota, Santiago de Chile, Buenos Aires and Sao Paolo."

Mar. 28 - Monterrey, Mexico - Café Iguana
Mar. 29 - México City, Mexico - Circo Volador
Apr. 01 - Bogota, Colombia - Teatro Metro
Apr. 03 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - The End
Apr. 04 - Santiago, Chile - Teatro Caupolicán
Apr. 05 - São Paulo, Brazil - Santana Hall

Source:	opeth.com
Band profile:	Opeth
Event:	Opeth

The new "Burden" video from Swedish progressive metallers Opeth, can now be viewed on the Roadrunner Records official website. The video was shot and directed in Denmark by Danish director Lasse Hoile (Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson).

"Burden" is taken from Opeth's latest release "Watershed".

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Opeth

"The Roundhouse Tapes", the long-awaited new DVD from Opeth, will be released on October 27 in Europe and November 11 in the U.S. via Peaceville Records.

"The Roundhouse Tapes" set contains the critically acclaimed Opeth performance from the Camden Roundhouse, London, UK in 2006 and sees the band in scintillating form playing a selection of classics from their illustrious career.

A mini-site featuring a trailer for the DVD, info on the release, downloads and more is now online at this location .

1,000 copies of the special edition of the DVD, packaged in a deluxe rigid digibook inside a hard slipcase, includes postcards of each band member, an exclusive art booklet featuring the work of Travis Smith (renowned Opeth sleeve designer) and "The Roundhouse Tapes" booklet, is also available to pre-order from the mini-site.

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Source:	peaceville.com
Band profile:	Opeth

Nachtmystium have dropped off the remainder of their tour with Opeth and High On Fire. Here's a statement from the band:

"Due to some issues beyond our control, we've been forced to pull off of the Opeth / High On Fire tour. We're aggressively working to try to get things together for the 2nd leg of our fall tour starting in Los Angeles on October 8th with Wolves In The Throne Room.

We apologize to anyone who was hoping to see us on the Opeth leg of the tour. Thanks to all of those who came out in support at the shows that we did manage to play, it was great seeing you maniacs out!!"

Nachtmystium have set the following dates for their new fall tour with Wolves In The Throne Room:

Oct 08 2008 - Knitting Factory Hollywood - Scion Metal Show - Los Angeles, Californiav (no Wolves In The Throne Room)
Oct 10 2008 - Berbati's - Portland, Oregon
Oct 11 2008 - Stillwater - Ashland, California
Oct 12 2008 - Metro - Oakland, California
Oct 14 2008 - The Phix - Phoenix, Arizona
Oct 17 2008 - Red 7 - Austin, Texas
Oct 18 2008 - Rubbergloves Rehearsal - Denton, Texas
Oct 19 2008 - The Marquee - Tulsa, Oklahoma
Oct 20 2008 - The Riot Room - Kansas City, Missouri
Oct 21 2008 - The Picador - Iowa City, Iowa
Oct 22 2008 - Melody Inn - Indianapolis, Indiana
Oct 23 2008 - Uncle Pleasants - Louisville, Kentucky
Oct 24 2008 - Mac's Bar - Lansing, Michigan
Oct 25 2008 - Reggies - Chicago, Illinois

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Source:	myspace.com
Band profile:	Nachtmystium

Opeth have issued the following update:

"Due to Mikael contracting Varicella (Chicken Pox), the appearances this weekend, Peace & Love (Borlänge, Sweden on June 26), Hovefestivalen (Norway on June 27), Metaltown (Gothenborg, Sweden on June 28), and Graspop Metal Meeting (Dessel, Belgium on June 29), have all been cancelled. We hope to have Mike on his feet again as soon as possible, and obviously apologize to all and any that had set out to see Opeth this weekend."

The replacement for Opeth on the Hovefestivalen and Metal Town is Satyricon.

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Source:	opeth.com
Band profile:	Opeth

Opeth have issued the following update about their Iberian gigs:

"Burning Live Festival on the 25th of July is cancelled. Due to the fact that the Portuguese festival got cancelled, Opeth have to cancel Lorca rock as well due to finances. But Opeth will return to Spain in the near future so keep checking the tour dates for updates."

Source:	opeth.com
Band profile:	Opeth
Event:	Lagoa Burning Live Festival [CANCELLED]

Swedish progressive death metal band Opeth have made an edit of a new song called "Lotus Eater" available online. The upcoming Opeth album "Watershed" will be released on 3th June at Roadrunner Records. You can download the song at this location.

In other news, Opeth have recently filmed a promotional video to an edit of the song "Porcelain Heart". The clip was directed by Lasse Hoile (Porcupine Tree etc) and shot in Vaxholm/Sweden at the marvellous Bogesund castle, built in the 1640's. The edit was done by Jens Bogren and Mikael Åkerfeldt. Mikael comments: "I think the video came out great! The location and the castle was beyond gorgeous, even though it was cold and empty in there and...yeah, a little scary too. Lasse and his team as well as the actors did a great job! The clip is very gothic looking which I think is the perfect imagery for the song and for Opeth overall I suppose. Really enjoyed filming that one actually!" Check out a few screen-shots here! The video can be watched by clicking this link.

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Source:	opeth.com
Band profile:	Opeth

The cover artwork for "Watershed", the forthcoming album from Swedish metallers Opeth, can be viewed here. The cover was (as usual) designed by Travis Smith in co-operation with frontman/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt.

"Watershed" is scheduled for release on June 3 via Roadrunner Records (one day earlier internationally). The CD, recorded in the band's native Sweden and produced by frontman/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt and Jens Bogren, is a masterwork that follows the time-honored Opeth tradition; its modern yet timeless, progressive yet paying homage to the sounds of classic rock.

"Watershed" track listing:

01. Coil
02. Heir Apparent
03. The Lotus Eater
04. Burden
05. Porcelain Heart
06. Hessian Peel
07. Hex Omega

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Source:	roadrunnerrecords.com
Band profile:	Opeth

Peaceville Records are releasing "Still Life" (2 CD special edition including 5.1 surround Mix). Still will be a 2 disc edition of the classic Opeth album.

"This new 2 disc edition of the critically acclaimed "Still Life" features a re-mastered stereo mix of the album on CD plus DVD with new 5.1 surround sound mix plus "Face Of Melinda" filmed live in London. The artwork has been re-worked by original designer Travis Smith.

"Still Life" was Opeth's first outing for Peaceville. Blessed with renewed enthusiasm, the band delivered yet another flawless gem of an album.

Like "My Arms, Your Hearse" before it, "Still Life" was originally recorded at Gothenburg's famous Studio Fredman under the watchful eye of engineer Fredrik Nordström, and has now been re-mastered and re-mixed by Jens Borgen at Fascination Street Studios.

Packaged in a rigid double digipack book. Release has been slated for March 31st, 2008 on pre-order sites. Cover art can be found here.

A special mini-site for the release can be accessed at this location.

Disc I: Stereo

01. The Moor
02. Godhead's Lament
03. Benighted
04. Moonlapse Vertigo
05. Face Of Melinda
06. Serenity Painted Death
07. White Cluster

Disc II: DVD (5.1)

01. The Moor
02. Godhead's Lament
03. Benighted
04. Moonlapse Vertigo
05. Face Of Melinda
06. Serenity Painted Death
07. White Cluster

+ Face Of Melinda (live video 2006)

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Source:	peaceville.com
Band profile:	Opeth

BW&BK has received the following press release:

New York, NY: "Swedish progressive metal titans Opeth, often credited as being forward thinkers who are a genre of one, are proud to announce "Watershed" as the title of their forthcoming album, due out on Roadrunner Records on June 2nd, 2008. The album, recorded in the band's native Sweden and produced by frontman/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt and Jens Bogren, is a masterwork that follows the time-honored Opeth tradition; its modern yet timeless, progressive yet paying homage to the sounds of classic rock.

"Watershed" is truly one of those special records that cycles through a variety of moods, speeds and textures, complete with lots of subtleties and nuances of sound. Because of its expansive scope, "Watershed" is destined to land the album atop many "Best Of" lists. Album opener "Coil" is a gorgeous acoustic number, featuring local folk vocalist Nathalie Lorichs, while "Heir Apparent" will knock listeners unconscious with its blunt force metal. Always one to defy the rules, Opeth posits sung vocals over artillery-like blast beats on "The Lotus Eater", cementing their reputation as innovators and redefiners.

"Watershed" combines elements of modern metal, prog rock, free jazz and hints of European folk music, all of which come together for a seamless, unique collection of songs that will leave an indelible mark upon all who listen. "Watershed" is the first Opeth release to feature new guitarist Fredrik Akesson and drummer Martin Axenrot and is the band's second effort for Roadrunner Records. "Watershed" is the eagerly awaited follow up to 2005's critically acclaimed Ghost Reveries."

The complete track listing is as follows:

01. Coil
02. Heir Apparent
03. The Lotus Eater
04. Burden
05. Porcelain Heart
06. Hessian Peel
07. Hex Omega

Source:	bravewords.com
Band profile:	Opeth

"The Roundhouse Tapes" DVD (Live at the Camden Roundhouse 2006, HD filmed) release is now set to September 2008. The dvd will feature fan interviews, band interviews, soundcheck footage and live photos.

Source:	opeth.com
Band profile:	Opeth

Opeth recently released their first live album "The Roundhouse Tapes". A video for the track "Bleak" coming of that album is now available to watch at http://www.peaceville.com/opeth.

More info here.

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Source:	hosted.verticalresponse.com
Band profile:	Opeth